as Alexis says in his Wicked Woman, where he speaks thus—
The best recipe for health
Is to apply sweet scents unto the brain.
And that most valiant, and indeed warlike poet, Alcæus, says—
He shed a sweet perfume all o'er my breast.
And the wise Anacreon says somewhere—
Why fly away, now that you've well anointed
Your breast, more hollow than a flute, with unguents?
for he recommends anointing the breast with unguent, as being the seat of the heart, and considering it an admitted point that that is soothed with fragrant smells. And the ancients used to act thus, not only because scents do of their own nature ascend upwards from the breast to the seat of smelling, but also because they thought that the soul had its abode in the heart; as Praxagoras, and Philotimus the physician taught; and Homer, too, says—
He struck his breast, and thus reproved his heart.[1]
And again he says—
His heart within his breast did rage.[2]
And in the Iliad he says—
But Hector's heart within his bosom shook.[3]
And this they consider a proof that the most important portion of the soul is situated in the heart; for it is as evident as possible that the heart quivers when under the agitation of fear. And Agamemnon, in Homer, says—
Scarce can my knees these trembling limbs sustain,
And scarce my heart support its load of pain;
With fears distracted, with no fix'd design,
And all my people's miseries are mine.[4]
And Sophocles has represented women released from fear as saying—
Now Fear's dark daughter does no more exult
Within my heart.[5]
But Anaxandrides makes a man who is struggling with fear say—
O my wretched heart!
How you alone of all my limbs or senses
Rejoice in evil; for you leap and dance
The moment that you see your lord alarm'd.
